Galaxy S4 should hit the stores in April 2013, might feature unbreakable display

Samsung could release a breakthrough smartphone with an unbreakable display soon. Set to release the next model of its immensely popular S series, the Galaxy S4, Samsung might or might not add this flexible screen technology to the upcoming flagship.

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According to Reuters, Samsung is currently working on the Galaxy S4 under the Project J name, after its mobile division chief J.K. Shin. The Galaxy S4 is aimed for release in April 2013 and is expected to feature a more powerful quad-core processor than the one on the Galaxy S3, a 13-megapixel camera, and a 441ppi display, to take on the full HD devices introduced by HTC, Sharp, and others.

According to several analysts including UBS’s Nicolas Gaudois, Samsung is accelerating the release of the Galaxy S4. The target window for store availability is April 2013, unlike Galaxy S3 which was released in May 2012.

While the chances of Samsung using an unbreakable display in the Galaxy S4 aren’t that great, Gaudios still thinks Samsung might be aiming to introduce the new screen in first half of 2013: “We believe preparations for volume manufacturing of unbreakable plastic substrate displays continue. All in all, we could see a strong products push in the high-end in the first half, followed by other releases.”

Another analyst, Mark Newman from Stanford Bernstein said that Samsung might introduce the technology on the Galaxy S4 or the Galaxy S5 which will debut in 2014. Newman said “eventually, they’ll have unbreakable and flexible displays. Either the Galaxy S4 or S5 will have unbreakable and even possibly flexible and foldable displays by 2014. That’s going to be a game-changer.”

Adding flexible displays to its mobile devices will give Samsung an edge over other manufacturers. But the breakthrough could also improve the company’s reputations, which was tarnished by the recent accusations of copying.